Jason Manford to narrate football shows for Dave
Jason Manford will narrate three football-based clip show specials for TV channel Dave.
In the run-up to the 2014 World Cup taking place this July, Dave will air England's Top 19 Footy Heroes, England's Top 53 Footy Goals and England's Top 39 Footy Gaffes.
The channel says the "nostalgic series" will "celebrate and commiserate the recent history of the England international football team with comment from footballing legends and their comedy fans".
The hour-long specials will feature insight from footballers including Gary Lineker, Ian Wright and Lee Dixon, alongside comment from various comedians.
Stand-up comic and Plebs actor Tom Rosenthal will appear alongside his father, sports broadcaster Jim Rosenthal (pictured below). Other comedy guests booked include Phil Cornwell, the Dead Ringers star who presents The Spurs Show podcast; and Alex Brooker, the The Last Leg presenter who, prior to becoming a TV star, worked as a sports reporter.
Jason Manford's script has been written with Paul Hawksbee, a TalkSport presenter who has previously worked on shows such as The Two Ronnies, Spitting Image, Fantasy Football League and Harry Hill's TV Burp.
UKTV Commissioning Editor Iain Coyle says: "This rich mix of talking heads and brilliant clips met with sporting heroes and comedians will be a great build up to the World Cup and remind audiences why we all bask in the love/hate relationship with the England football team."
Steve North, General Manager for Dave, believes the series will sit well on the comedy-dominated channel in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup 2014. "Offering our viewers a look back at some of England's footballing highlights and downfalls seems like a natural fit for them and Dave. It's a great opportunity for the channel to bring some of the top names in comedy and sports together and create a buzz ahead of the World Cup in the summer."
Tony Pastor, from production company EVR, adds: "The team at Dave really love their football, and it's brilliant that they've enabled us to bring together the best collection of modern-day England action ever assembled. I think people will be really surprised to see so much of the most memorable stuff, from Beckham's stunning free-kick against Greece to Michael Owen's astonishing goal at World Cup 98. It's an absolute treat to be producing shows about the England football team, everyone wants to talk about their heroes and where they were when Gazza cried."
England's Top 19 Footy Heroes, England's Top 53 Footy Goals and England's Top 39 Footy Gaffes will be shown on Dave in May.
Road To Rio, a series in which Mark Watson and Henning Wehn drive through South America to the host nation of the contest, Brazil, will also be shown on Dave. The first episode is scheduled for Tuesday 6th May.
With the World Cup now just two months away, the topics of comedy and sport are merging more regularly. ITV4 has scheduled the animated football-based sitcom Warren United to begin later this month. Meanwhile comedians have also become involved in World Cup related songs. Omid Djalili has recorded England's Going Out (To Do It Again) (Listen) and Roy Chubby Brown has recorded lyrics for Hopes Of A Thousand Men (Listen).